Isaiah 7:4
"...Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; do not let your courage fail..."
During the time when Ahaz was king of Judah (735-715 B.C.), threats were repeatedly made against him and the holy city of Jerusalem, because he refused to enter into an alliance with the Northern Kingdom of Israel and with Aram. At one point, the threats became overwhelming to King Ahaz and the people of Jerusalem, whose hearts "trembled as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind" (Isaiah 7:2).
Enter Isaiah, whom God sent to give courage to Ahaz, assuring him that Jerusalem would stand despite attacks from these formidable foes.
"Be Courageous." That is the message that Isaiah was sent to share with the king. That is also the message that today's saint, Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), shared with the world by her life. This virgin, who spent only 24 years on this earth, embodied courage by her refusal to marry a Mohawk brave, despite repeated pressure by her uncle and by society, eventually taking a vow of virginity. She also embraced the message of Christ, shared by Jesuit missionaries, and was baptized at age 19, taking the name "Kateri," in honor of St. Catherine of Siena.
\While she only lived five years after her baptism, Kateri courageously and wholeheartedly gave herself to God, through prayer, acts of charity, and self-denial.
Do I have the courage to remain firm in my faith, in spite of the pressure to compromise?
Lord, make me courageous, especially when my circumstances are most overwhelming.
Get to know our writers! Today's reflection was written by:
Deacon Rick Wells
Did you know...
Deacon Rick Wells was ordained for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1997. A former Methodist, he was received into the Catholic faith in 1988. He currently works as Chancellor for the Diocese and serves at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Clearwater. Deacon Rick and his wife Barbara have been happily married for 31 years.
